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Westbrook Receives White Plume Award
n January, Lorenzo Westbrook, deputy director of the Family
I and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Directorate (DFMWR) at
Fort Hood, Texas, received the White Plume Award, a prestigious
honor given to only a select few since its establishment in 1982.
“Today was a very special day for our garrison team as we
honored Mr. Lorenzo Westbrook with the Army’s second-highest
medal for achievement in support of
Army Family and MWR programs,” U.S. During a January ceremony, USAG Fort
Army Garrison Fort Hood Commander Col. Hood Commander Col. Hank Perry places
The Order Hank Perry said, noting that Westbrook the White Plume medallion around the
of the White is only the 440th recipient of this honor. neck of Lorenzo Westbrook, deputy
Plume, a pres- “He has demon- DFMWR director at Fort Hood, Texas.
tigious honor strated, through both
given to only outcomes and perfor-
a select few mance, that he is a role
since its es- model for every FMWR
tablishment employee and leader in
in 1982.
what they should strive
to be,” Perry said. “Over
the years, Lorenzo set the example as
the Fort Hood Equal Employment Op-
portunity (EEO) Supervisor of the Year
in 2002, led initiatives and improve-
ment as the Child and Youth Services
division chief, continuously mentored
subordinates as they progressed within
the civil service, and has been selected
to periodically serve as the acting deputy
to the garrison commander.

SELFLESS LEADER
“Lorenzo embodies the selfless
leader who tirelessly works to make our
community better each and every day,”
Perry added. “I appreciate Installation
Management Command’s (IMCOM)
support in recognizing Mr. Westbrook
as a lifelong professional committed
to our soldiers and families.”
Westbrook has been in civil service
for more than 36 years, the last 22 at
“The Great Place,” as Fort Hood is
known in the Army. Until the ceremony
began, Westbrook had no idea he was
receiving the award.
“I was shocked and overwhelmed,”
he said, recalling an annual MWR con-
ference in the early 1990s when one
of his superiors received the award. “I
made the statement that one day, I’m
going to receive the White Plume, but
20-plus years later it had not happened.
“When Col. Perry stated what award
was being presented, I was in awe. I felt
so honored and blessed to be thought of
so highly by my leaders and peers alike,
to have this award bestowed on me. I’m
finally in the ranks of all those great
servants of FMWR who paved the way
for me to reach this peak in my career.”
FMWR Director Nick Johnsen said

JUNE 2018 | MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY 5